Tone-modulating device for pianos



R. C. FINDER.

TONE MODULATING D'EVICE FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED sans, 1920.

R. C. FINDER.

-TONE MOOULATING DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION FILED'SEPT. 8,1920.

Patented Aug. 30,1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROLAND C. FINDER, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 P. & F.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

or MINSTER, 01110, A FIRM ooMrosED or GEORGE H. KNosrMAN AND Artinian B.

FISCHER.

TONE-MODULATINGr` DEVICE FOR PIANOS.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ROLAND C. FINDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tone-Modulating Devices for Pianos, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to pianos and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for pianos which is so constructed that a novel tone will be given to the piano which will be similar to a string instrument, such as a ukulele, mandolin or the like.

Another object of the invention is toprovide an improved attachment for pianos embodying a movable member adapted to be brought into and out of position between the strings andthe piano hammers, the attachment when` placed between the strings and the hammers beingadapted to give a metallic tone to the pianosimilar to a string instrument.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for raising and loweringthe attachment into and out of operative position in relation to the piano hammers and strings' and an improved means for holding the attachment in its adjusted positions.

AV further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved means for 4connecting the flexible tabs for the strings to the at-` taching bar so that the tabs can be readily adjusted andY held in alinement with the strings.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a novel striker for the strings carried by the flexible strips, so that the strikers will not` become ventangled with the strings, and to give a pleasing string instrument tone to the piano.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved attachment for pianos'for giving a stringed instrument tone thereto, which will be durable and eflicient` in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placedV upon the market and incorporated with` a piano at a minimum cost. A s v With these` and other objects in view, the invention consists'in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

Application led September 8, 1920. Serial No. 408,811.

be hereinafter more specifically described,

claimed and illustrated in the accompany-` ing drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse sec-V the attachment also being shown in its in- 1 operative position in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of the player piano spool boX showing the control device for the attachment operatively connected thereto.l

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the string engaging portion ofthe .improved player piano attachment. y f v Fig. 4 is anv enlarged fragmentary detail cross sectional view through the gaging portion of a piano attachment.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of one of the string engaging sections.- l i Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the controlfor the device.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of .one of the guides utilized for the cable of the control for the attachment.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar preference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A indicatesa piano, and B, the improved u kulele attachment therefor. The piano y A.maybe of any preferred type or make, either of the player or nonplayer type. Asshownthe piano A is of the player type andincludes the casing 10, the spool box `11, the sound board 12, the strings 13, and the piano hammers 14C. The casing 1() of the pianomay be of the usual shape-or configuration and includes the side .ferred manner, the forwardly extending arms 17, and'these arms are in turn hin gedly or pivotally connected at their free terminals to the side walls 15 of the piano case string enby means of screws or the like 18. The

' rail 1G supports the key-engaging sections 19, each one of which is adapted to engage one octave of the piano. There may be as many of the sections 19 as therearc octaves of the piano and as shown there are eight of the sections 19 for the treble end of the piano, and a felt muffler pad 2O for the bass end of the piano. The felt muffler pad 2O is secured directly to the rail in any preferred manner either by glue or by suitable retaining screws or the like and is of preferably one continuous sheet. The sections 19 are each divided into eight depending flexible lingers 21 and the terminals of these lingers carry the metallic strikers 22. The sections are preferably formed of relatively stiff fabric and are slotted to form the fingers 21. The upper terminals of the sections 19 are secured by suitable adhesives or the like 23 to the inner surface of attaching strips 24 adjacent to their upper edges. The inner surfaces of these attachingstrips 24 adjacent to their lower edges have grit, sand or the like 25 applied thereto for frictionally engaging the lingers 21 so as to hold the same in direct alinement with the strings 13 of the piano and to prevent relative lateral movement thereof. In applying the device in place,'the rail 16 is cut to properly lit the inside of the case, and the brackets or arms 17 are secured thereto and then connected to the case 10 by means of the screws 18. The rail is so positioned that the same is placed about one quarter of an inch away from the strings. The muffler strip 20 is then placed in position on the rail 16 for the bass strings. The sections 19 are then placed in position starting from the bass strings. The sections are so placed that each of the fingers 21 will be in direct alinement with the piano strings, and if by any reason any one of the lingers will not lie in direct alinement to the strings, it is merely necessary to move the same slightly over to aline therewith, and when the strips 24 are' placed in position, the abrasive 25 will hold the lingers in their adjusted positions and absolut-ely preclude displacement thereof. The strips are heldin position by suitable screws 27 or the like. Each section 19 is placed in position similar to the sections just described. It can be seen that each of the strips 24 is provided with openings 28 for the screws 27 or other fastening elements. To limit the downward movement of the rail 16 in relation to the strings 13, stops 29 are secured to the side walls 15 of the case 10 in the path of the arms 17.

The improved control D includes a verti cal sliding rod 30,l the upper end of which has secured thereto in any preferred manner the flexible cable 31 for raising and lowering the rail 16. A pair of spaced guides 32 is secured to the spool box 11 of the player piano and each one of these guidesl includes a body 83 provided with a bore 34 in which is fitted a felt bushing or the like 85. The body 33 is provided with a vertical slit 36 which extends inwardly from one side edge thereof to the bore 34. The sliding rod 30 is fitted in the felt bushings 35 and is adapted for slidingmovement therein, but the felt bushings form frictional locks therefor and effectively hold the same in its raised or lowered position. Each of the guides 32 is held in position by means of fastening screws 87 and 38 whichextend vthrough the body 33 and into a spool box 11. The screw 38 extends through the slit portion 3G of the guide and it can be seen that by tightening the screw 38 the pressure of the guides on the rod 30 can be readily controlled. lower end of the rod 30 is angled as at 40 and provided with a right angularly extending handle 41. A guide strap 42 .is secured to the front face of the spool box 11 and forms a positive guide for the rod 30 and precludes lateral movement thereof. Blocks 48 are secured to the upper surface of the spool box 'lland these blocks 43 carry outwardly extending guide pins or rollers 44. These guide pins or rollers 44 may bc provided with the usual sound absorbing washers 45 if so desired. As clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the flexible cable 31 is trained under the first guide roller 44 and then over the second guid-e'roller 44 and is secured to the upper edge of the rail 1G adjacent to the central portion thereof.

lit can be seen that when the rod 30 is raised, the rail 1G will be swung on the pivots 18, thus moving the flexible lingers 21 from out of the path ofthe hamm-ers 17, thus allowing'the piano to be used in the ordinary manner. Then it is desired to use the attachment, however, the rod 39 is lowercd'in the bearings which will cause a slack in the cable 31 and thus permit'the rail 16 to swing` on the pivots 18 and position the flexible lingers 21 in the path 4of the hammers.

The metallic strikers 22 may be of any preferred configuration and secured to the lower terminals of the lingers in any pref ferred manner. As shown these strikers are bent entirely around the lower edge of the lingers and secured thereto by suitable bent tongues or the like.

It can be seen that when a piano hammer strikes one of the flexible fingers 21, `the strikers 22 will be vibrated back and forth and will give a metallic note to the strings, thus giving the tone of a ukulele or a man olin to the piano.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that an improved attachment has been provided for pianos for changing the tone thereof which can be quickly and easily The secured thereto by the ordinary layman and not require the services of a skilled me- Vchanic to apply the same thereto.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention; but,

I claim: f

1. The combination with a piano including strings and hammers, of an attachment for the piano including a rail, arms carried by the rail, means pivotally securing the free terminals of the arms to the piano, a plurality of flexible finger strips securedto the rail and arranged between the strings and hammers, a vertically disposed sliding operating rod, friction guides for said rod to hold the same in adjusted position, and a flexible cable connected to the upper end of said rod andv to the rail whereby upon movement of the rod, the rail will be raised or lowered. V v

2. The combination with a piano including strings and hammers, of an attachment for the piano including a longitudinally extending lrail, means pivotally connecting the rail to the piano, a plurality of flexible finger strips secured to the rail, metallic strikers carried by the ngers arranged to engage the strings, an adjusting rod, a pair of spaced vertically disposed guides for the4 rod, felt'bushings carried by said guides and arranged to frictionally engage the adjusting rod to hold the same in an adjusted position, guide rollers carried by the piano and ka flexible cable connecting'the upper end of the rod with the rail and trained around said guide rollers whereby upon movement of the rod the rail will be raised or lowered.

3. The combination with a player piano including a plurality of strings, a plurality of hammers, and a spool box, of an attachment for the piano including a movable rail,

a plurality of flexible finger sections secured to the rail, a plurality of strikers carried by the flexible fingers adapted to engage the strings and a pair of guides secured to the spool box, each of the guides having a bore, a felt bushing fitted in said bore arranged to form a friction grip, a vertically disposed rod fitted in said bushings, the guides being split, means for adjusting the split portions of the guides toward and away from each other, a flexible cable connecting the upper end of the rod with the rail, and an operating handle formed on said rod.

4L. The combination with a player piano including a plurality of strings, a plurality of hammers, and a spool box, of an attaclr ment for the piano including a movable rail, a plurality of depending flexible fingers carried by the rail, metallic strikers carried by the free terminals of the fingers, a vertically disposed sliding rod, a pair of spaced friction guides, carried by the spool box arranged to receive said rod, a flexible cable vconnecting the upper end of said rod with the rail, a right angular bent terminal formed on said rod at the lower end thereof arranged to extend in front of said spool box, and a guide strap for said right angular bent end.

5. The combination with a piano including strings and hammers, of an attachment therefor including a rail, an attaching strip, a flexible finger strip secured at its upper `end to the attaching strip, means for securing the attaching strip to the rail to clamp the finger strip between the attaching strip and the rail, friction memberscarried by the inner surface of the attaching strip arranged to engage the finger strip to hold the lower edge of the same in an adjusted position.

ROLAND c. FINDER. 

